A journal of the adventures of Shao Jie Mei (Sister Hannah Sharp) as she serves the Lord in China

Monday, July 27, 2015

Following Elder Ballard's Counsel

Sister Ellsworth and I are very happy to report that we have
seen bounteous amounts of miracles this last week. The Lord is definitely
guiding this work. I am so grateful to be here!

Our investigators are doing really well. Many of them are
still going back to the mainland, but I hope and believe that when they return home
they will be ready to learn more.

Sister Ellsworth and I have made it a goal to follow the
guidance Elder Ballard gave to us back in March when he came. He counseled us
to speak to ten people every day (outside of normal teaching and finding
time...so like while traveling or eating or whatever), to teach a full
lesson every day (to an investigator but if not possible than to a member), and to
ask for referrals from everyone. So far, it has worked extremely well! We had
many miracle lessons and met many wonderful people this week and I truly
believe that the Lord has blessed us because of our effort to do what we have
been counseled to do. Here's just one example from this week:

Yesterday, we had no scheduled lessons. We decided that our
goal at church would be to schedule a member to visit that evening. We were
unsuccessful. We returned home a bit disappointed because we really wanted to
teach a full lesson and do as Elder Ballard taught. Then, while eating lunch
we got a call from a senior missionary couple inviting us over to
their home so that we could help them teach a family that lives in the same apartment
complex as them. Sister Ellsworth and I were so excited! Heavenly Father had
answered our prayers and prepared a way for us to do what we desired to do.
Also, after that lesson we were in the elevator with a woman and her daughter.
We spoke to them as we went down the elevator and walked outside. Right as we
walked outside a huge downpour came out of nowhere and so the four of us had
to sprint to cover. And then we had a really nice opportunity to talk more with
them and get their contact info while we waited for the rain to pass.

Speaking of church .... church yesterday was awesome:

1) Sister Ellsworth spoke in sacrament meeting. It was her first talk and she
did so good!!

2) We taught relief society! It was fun! We taught about
charity.

3) And this was crazy: The second speaker in sacrament meeting
(after Sister Ellsworth) was one of our YSA members. He started by telling the
story of how he joined the church a few years ago and then talked about the
blessings he has received since then. At one point he started talking about how
his girlfriend was one of those blessings - and then he left the pulpit (I
thought he like wanted to read a scripture or something but had forgotten his
scriptures and was going to get them....), walks to the back of the chapel,
kneels down and PROPOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the middle of his talk!!!!!!!!! And then he ran back up to the pulpit and said "feng Yesu Jidu de ming,
amen" (in the name of Jesus Christ amen).

I love Hong Kong!!!

This is our MTC Branch President's wife - she was in Hong Kong on business. So cool!